Perhaps the around lavish box set upwards ever released within the realm of progressive rock, this wonderfully designed, all-inclusive iii department box set upwards contains every unloose from this seminal band's career with Mercury Records. The collection is divided into iii "sectors" each with 4 studio albums in addition to the alive album corresponding to that era. Plus, 1 album inwards each sector contains an additional DVD with 5.1 mix. The box construction is sturdy heavy cardboard, in addition to when the iii sectors are placed side past times side to each other on a shelf or tabular array top they shape a route instance with all the Rush logos on the outside. Nice. But from a cosmetic standpoint, the best characteristic of this reissue would conduct keep to live the private albums. Each CD is housed within a mini album sleeve that is an exact replica of the original LP fine art in addition to layout. For those that recall the double gate-fold trend LP's from the 70's, these miniatures volition choose dorsum about slap-up memories. However, since this "miniaturized" rendering makes about of the lyrical content equally good modest to decipher, the band wisely chose to unloose a separate booklet (one for each sector) which contains photos artwork in addition to reprinted, to a greater extent than legible lyrics from the corresponding albums inwards that set. The only disappointment hither is that at that topographic point are no additional liner notes inwards whatever of these booklets, in addition to no lyrics are included for Rush in addition to Fly By Night. Additionally, each recording has been digitally remastered thence the audio character is phenomenal. The lack of bonus fabric on whatever of the discs may live a disappointment to some, but for Rush purists this is a plus. The intent hither was patently to retain equally much of the "original" experience of the releases, only translated into digital format. The only way, perhaps, to render a meliorate collection of Rush's Mercury years would live to unloose the same set upwards with LP's instead of CD's in addition to DVD's. Until that day, though, this is a wonderful agency to cull the band's around prolific in addition to around lauded recordings into a concise, yet comprehensive in addition to consummate package.
1977 [2011] Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Farewell to Kings
On 1977's A Farewell to Kings it rapidly becomes apparent that Rush had improved their songwriting in addition to strengthened their focus in addition to musical approach. Synthesizers also grade their firstly prominent appearance on a Rush album, a direction the band would move along to pursue on hereafter releases. With the pop striking unmarried "Closer to the Heart," the trio showed that they could compose concise in addition to traditionally structured songs, patch the 11-minute "Xanadu" remains an outstanding accomplishment all these years after (superb musicianship merged with bright lyrics aid create 1 of Rush's best all-time tracks). The album-opening championship rail begins with a tasty classical guitar/synth passage, earlier erupting into a powerful rocker. The underrated "Madrigal" proves to live a delicately beautiful composition, patch "Cinderella Man" is 1 of Rush's few songs to include lyrics penned only past times Geddy Lee. The ten-minute tale of a unsafe dark hole, "Cygnus X-1," closes the album on an unpredictable note, slightly comparable to the 2 bizarre extended songs on 1975's Caress of Steel. A Farewell to Kings successfully built on the hope of their breakthrough 2112, in addition to helped broaden their audience.
Tracks Listing
1. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Farewell To Kings (5:49)
2. Xanadu (11:04)
3. Closer To The Heart (2:51)
4. Cinderella Man (4:19)
5. Madrigal (2:33)
6. Cygnus X-1 (10:21)
Total Time: 36:57
Line-up / Musicians
- Alex Lifeson / guitars (6- & 12-strings electrical in addition to acoustic, classical), bass pedals
- Geddy Lee / bass, bass pedals, Mini-Moog, 12-string guitar, vocals
- Neil Peart / drums, orchestral & tubular bells, current of air chimes, vibra-slap, percussions
1978 [2011] Hemispheres
Following themes going dorsum to Rush's 2nd album, Fly past times Night, on Hemispheres lyricist Neil Peart continued to utilize fantasy in addition to science fiction motifs. Similar to their 1976 release, 2112, the championship rail on Hemispheres takes upwards the entire firstly side of the album, in addition to is a suite of songs telling a flush - inwards this case, a continuation of the flush begun inwards "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage" on the band's previous album A Farewell to Kings. The 2nd side consists of 2 conventional tracks, "Circumstances" in addition to "The Trees," in addition to the band's firstly standalone instrumental, "La Villa Strangiato." According to drummer Neil Peart, they spent to a greater extent than fourth dimension recording "La Villa Strangiato" than they did recording the entire Fly past times Night album.
The album contains examples of Rush's adherence to progressive rock standards including the role of fantasy lyrics, multi-movement vocal structures, in addition to complex rhythms in addition to time signatures. In the 2010 documentary cinema Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, the band members comment that the stress of recording Hemispheres was a major cistron inwards their conclusion to start moving away from suites in addition to long-form pieces inwards their songwriting. That modify inwards philosophy would manifest itself inwards the band's side past times side album, the considerably to a greater extent than accessible Permanent Waves. The band's 7th album would grade their commercial success, paving the agency for the multi-platinum Moving Pictures.
While such albums equally 1980's Permanent Waves in addition to 1981's Moving Pictures are commonly considered Rush's masterpieces (and with goodness reason), 1978's Hemispheres is only equally deserving. Maybe the fact that the album consists of only iv compositions (half are lengthy pieces) was a flake equally good intimidating for some, but the close 20-minute-long "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres" is arguably the band's finest extended track. While the flush business isn't equally comprehensible equally "2112" was, it's much to a greater extent than consistent musically, twisting in addition to turning through 5 dissimilar sections which contrast heavy stone sections against to a greater extent than sedate pieces. Neil Peart had move 1 of rock's around accomplished lyricists past times this point, equally evidenced past times "The Trees," which deals with racism in addition to inequality inwards a unique agency (set inwards a forest!). And equally always, the trio evidence to live experts at their instruments, this fourth dimension on the complex instrumental "La Villa Strangiato." Geddy Lee's shrieking vocals on the otherwise corporation "Circumstances" may edge on the irritating, but Hemispheres remains 1 of Rush's greatest releases.
Tracks Listing
1. Cygnus X-1 Book II Hemispheres (18:04)
- I Prelude (4:27)
- II Apollo/III Dionysus (4:36)
- IV Armageddon (2:55)
- V Cygnus (5:01)
- VI The Sphere (1:02)
2. Circumstances (3:40)
3. The Trees (4:42)
4. La Villa Strangiato (9:35)
- Buenos Nochas, Mein Froinds!
- To Sleep, Perchance To Dream...
- Strangiato Theme
- Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Lerxst In Wonderland
- Monsters!
- The Ghost Of The Aragon
- Danforth And Pape
- The Waltz Of The Shreves
- Never Turn Your Back On Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Monster
- Monsters! (Reprise)
- Strangiato Theme (Reprise)
- Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Farewell To Things
Total Time: 37:00
Line-up / Musicians
- Alex Lifeson / guitars (6- & 12-strings electrical in addition to acoustic, classical, Roland synth), bass pedals
- Geddy Lee / basses, Taurus bass pedals, Mini-Moog, Oberheim polyphonic synth, vocals
- Neil Peart / drums, orchestra bells, current of air chimes, tympani, gong, crotales, percussions
1980 [2011] Permanent Waves
Permanent Waves is the 7th studio album past times Canadian rock band Rush, released on Jan 14, 1980. It was recorded at Le Studio inwards Morin Heights, Quebec, in addition to mixed at Trident Studios inwards London, UK. Permanent Waves became Rush's firstly US top 5 album, hitting #4 on the Billboard 200, in addition to their 5th gilded (later platinum) selling album. The album marks a distinct transition from long, conceptual pieces, into a to a greater extent than accessible, radio-friendly trend in addition to consequently, a important increment inwards tape sales for the band. The singles "The Spirit of Radio" in addition to "Freewill" both received important radio airplay.
Since Neil Peart joined the band inwards fourth dimension for 1975's Fly past times Night, Rush had been experimenting in addition to growing musically with each successive release. By 1980's Permanent Waves, the modern sounds of novel moving ridge (the Police, Peter Gabriel, etc.) began to creep into Rush's sound, but the trio notwithstanding kept their difficult stone roots intact. The novel approach paid off -- 2 of their around pop songs, the "make a difference" anthem "Freewill," in addition to a tribute to the Toronto radio station CFNY, "The Spirit of Radio" (the latter a U.K. Top xv hit), are spectacular highlights. Also included were 2 "epics," the stormy "Jacob's Ladder" in addition to the album-closing "Natural Science," which contains a middle department that contains elements of reggae. Geddy Lee also began singing inwards a slightly lower register around this time, which made their music to a greater extent than accessible to fans exterior of the heavy prog stone circle. The album proved to live the lastly breakthrough Rush needed to move an arena headliner throughout the world, commencement a string of albums that would compass within the Top Five of the U.S. Billboard album charts. Permanent Waves is an undisputed difficult stone classic, but Rush would outdo themselves with their side past times side release.
Permanent Waves is the band’s 7th studio album, released on Jan 14th, 1980. It was recorded at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec, in addition to mixed at Trident Studios inwards London. The tracks were set downwardly only shy of four weeks, in business office attributed to the idyllic working weather of Morin Heights.
The album marks a transition from long, conceptual pieces, into a to a greater extent than accessible, radio-friendly style. “The Spirit Of Radio” is 1 of the around commercial songs Rush has ever produced, containing several dissimilar musical elements, fifty-fifty a acquit on of reggae. At the time, Alex recalled:
“We’ve ever played around with reggae inwards the studio in addition to nosotros used to practise a reggae intro to Working Man onstage, thence when it came to doing Spirit Of Radio nosotros only idea we’d practise the reggae flake to brand us grin in addition to conduct keep a fiddling fun.”The waving human being inwards the background of the album comprehend is actually Hugh Syme, the band’s long fourth dimension pattern collaborator.
Tracks Listing
1. The Spirit of Radio (4:56)
2. Freewill (5:21)
3. Jacob's Ladder (7:26)
4. Entre Nous (4:37)
5. Different Strings (3:48)
6. Natural Science (9:17)
-I Tide Pools
-II Hyperspace
-III Permanent Waves
Total Time: 35:25
Line-up / Musicians
- Alex Lifeson / 6- & 12-strings electrical in addition to acoustic guitars, Taurus bass pedals
- Geddy Lee / basses, bass pedals, synthesizers (Oberheim polyphonic, OB-1, Mini-Moog), vocals
- Neil Peart / drums, tympani, orchestral & tubular bells, timbales, current of air chimes, crotales, triangle
With:
- Hugh Syme / pianoforte (5)
- Erwig Chuapchuaduah / steel drums (1)
1981 [2011] Exit Stage Left
Exit...Stage Left is a alive album past times Canadian band Rush, released inwards 1981. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 video unloose of the same name, with slightly dissimilar content, was released inwards 1982 on VHS in addition to after on LaserDisc, in addition to inwards 2007 on DVD.
The album was voted ninth best alive album of all fourth dimension inwards a poll past times Classic Rock Magazine inwards 2004.
The first, third, in addition to 4th sides of the original vinyl number were recorded inwards Canada during the Moving Pictures tour, patch the 2nd side was recorded inwards the UK during the Permanent Waves tour.
The original CD number removed "A Passage to Bangkok", equally CDs could only concur 75 minutes at the time. It was included on the 1997 remaster, equally CD capacity had increased to fourscore minutes past times that time. Before the remastered version was released, the same alive version of "A Passage to Bangkok" was released on the compilation Chronicles inwards 1990.
Exit… Stage Left, the band’s 2nd alive album, was recorded at The Apollo inwards Glasgow, Scotland on June tenth & 11th, 1980 in addition to at The Forum inwards Montreal, Quebec inwards March 27th, 1981. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 video unloose with the same name, with slightly dissimilar content, was released inwards 1982 on VHS in addition to after on Laserdisc, in addition to inwards 2007 on DVD.
As Rush advanced technologically into the early on 80s, capturing flawless recorded performances became to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than challenging:
“Yes, nosotros made a few repairs to the record. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 business office here and at that topographic point would ruin an otherwise perfect song, thence nosotros patched upwards the strange bit. Sometimes we had striking the incorrect thing or gone all of a abrupt out of tune. It would live so much easier if nosotros were perfect.” – Neil Peart, 1981.Exit… Stage Left was alongside the firstly Rush albums to live digitally mastered. As the globe moved to the CD digital format, digital masters created from original analog recordings became a necessity. Rush’s previous studio album, Moving Pictures, was 1 of the firstly stone albums to be digitally mixed in addition to mastered.
Live albums commonly lack something inwards recording in addition to instrumental quality. Not this one. As a large Rush fan who has around of their albums, I genuinely believe they were at the peak of their careers when they recorded this album. Neil Peart's drumming is incredible in addition to listening to him alive makes it fifty-fifty to a greater extent than dynamic. The drum solo inwards YYZ is worth the cost of admission alone. All the slap-up songs from their previous albums are here. My personal favorite is "The Trees", which sends shivers downwardly my spine in addition to I similar the alive version meliorate thence the original version. This is, IMO, the greatest Live Rock album ever produced.
Tracks Listing
1. Spirit Of Radio (5:12)
2. Red Barchetta (6:48)
3. YYZ (7:44)
4. Closer To The Heart 3:09)
5. Beneath, Between in addition to Behind (2:34)
6. Jacobs Ladder (8:47)
7. Broon's Bane (1:37)
8. The Trees (4:50)
9. Xanadu (12:10)
10. Freewill (5:33)
11. Tom Sawyer (5:01)
12. La Villa Strangiato (9:38)
Total Time: 76:29
Line-up / Musicians
- Geddy Lee / bass, bass pedals, synthesizers, vocals, musical rhythm guitar
- Alex Lifeson / guitars, bass pedals
- Neil Peart / drums, percussion
1981 [2011] Moving Pictures
Moving Pictures is the 8th studio album past times Canadian rock band Rush. It was recorded in addition to mixed from Oct to Nov 1980 at Le Studio inwards Morin-Heights, Quebec, Canada, in addition to released on Feb 12, 1981. Building on their previous album, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures follows a to a greater extent than radio-friendly format in addition to includes several of the band's best-known songs, such equally the singles "Tom Sawyer" in addition to "Limelight", the stone radio touchstone "Red Barchetta", in addition to the instrumental "YYZ".
Moving Pictures became the band's highest-selling album inwards the United States, peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200, in addition to it remains the band's around commercially successful recording. The album was 1 of the firstly to live certified multi-platinum past times the RIAA upon institution of the certification inwards Oct 1984, in addition to eventually went quadruple platinum. Moving Pictures is 1 of 2 Rush albums listed inwards 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2112 is the other). Kerrang! journal listed the album at #43 alongside the "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time". In 2012, Moving Pictures was listed equally #10 on 'Your Favorite Prog Rock Albums of All Time' past times Rolling Stone. In 2014, readers of Rhythm voted Moving Pictures the greatest drumming album inwards the history of progressive rock.
The album comprehend fine art is a visual pun on the title, in addition to a triple entendre. The firstly important is represented past times the movers carrying pictures, with the 2nd past times the people watching them who are emotionally moved past times the pictures. The tertiary important is shown on the dorsum cover, where the entire scene is revealed to live a set upwards for a displace picture.
What tin you lot say? Moving Pictures became the band’s biggest selling album inwards the U.S., rising to #3 on the Billboard charts. It remains Rush’s most pop in addition to commercially successful studio recording. Rush’s complex songwriting in addition to musical virtuosity reached novel heights on this album.
Recorded and mixed from Oct to Nov 1980 at Le Studio, Moving Pictures followed a to a greater extent than radio-friendly format in addition to includes several signature tracks, including “Tom Sawyer,” “Limelight,” “Red Barchetta,” in addition to the band’s highly praised instrumental, “YYZ,” which is the IATA airdrome identification code of Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The album comprehend is a monument to triple entendre. Movers are physically moving pictures, people are crying because the pictures passing past times are emotionally “moving,” in addition to the dorsum comprehend depicts a film crew making a “moving picture” of the whole scene.
Not only is 1981's Moving Pictures Rush's best album, it is undeniably 1 of the greatest difficult stone albums of all time. The novel moving ridge meets difficult stone approach of Permanent Waves is honed to perfection -- all 7 of the tracks are classics (four are notwithstanding featured regularly inwards concert in addition to on classic stone radio). While other difficult stone bands at the fourth dimension experimented unsuccessfully with other musical styles, Rush were 1 of the few to successfully cross over. The whole entire firstly side is perfect -- their around renowned song, "Tom Sawyer," kicks things off, in addition to is shortly followed past times the racing "Red Barchetta," the instrumental "YYZ," in addition to a vocal that examines the pros in addition to cons of stardom, "Limelight." And patch the 2nd side isn't equally forthwith striking equally the first, it is ultimately rewarding. The long in addition to winding "The Camera Eye" begins with a synth-driven slice earlier transforming into 1 of the band's to a greater extent than straight-ahead epics, patch "Witch Hunt" in addition to "Vital Signs" stay 2 of the trio's to a greater extent than underrated stone compositions. Rush proved with Moving Pictures that at that topographic point was notwithstanding uncharted territory to explore within the difficult stone format, in addition to were rewarded with their around enduring in addition to pop album.
Tracks Listing
1. Tom Sawyer (4:34)
2. Red Barchetta (6:08)
3. YYZ (4:24)
4. Limelight (4:21)
5. The Camera Eye (10:57)
6. Witch Hunt (Part III of Fear) (4:44)
7. Vital Signs (4:47)
Total Time: 39:55
Line-up / Musicians
- Alex Lifeson / 6- & 12-strings electrical in addition to acoustic guitars, Taurus bass pedals
- Geddy Lee / basses, bass pedals, synthesizers (Oberheim polyphonic, OB-X, Mini-Moog), vocals
- Neil Peart / drums, timbales, orchestra bells, glockenspiel, current of air chimes, crotales, percussions
With:
- Hugh Syme / synthesizers (6)
EmoticonEmoticon